Thursday, February 23, 2017

Tibetan Monks Create Mandala in Library

You are invited to the Opening Ceremony at the Ort Library that welcomes the Tibetan monks to campus on Sunday, March 5 at 3:00.

During their five day residency, the lamas will create a mandala with colored sand. It will require at least 33 hours of concentrated effort to complete the sand painting. Observation hours to view the process will be Sunday, March 5 3:00 -7:00 p.m.; Monday to Wednesday 10:00 a.m - 7:00 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m. - 12 Noon.

A lecture will also be held on Sunday, March 5, on the "Symbolism of the Sand Mandala" in the Atkinson Room (232) of the Lane Center.

Events will occur throughout the week to celebrate the ceremonies and traditions of Buddhism. This campus residency is endorsed by the Dalai Lama to promote world peace and healing.

When he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, the Dalai Lama stated, " I believe all religions pursue the same goals, that of cultivating human goodness and bringing happiness to all human beings. Though the means might appear different the ends are the same."

The monks from the Drepung Loselang Monastery in Tibet will conclude their visit with a public performance on March 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available by calling 301-687-3137.

Visit the Mystical Arts of Tibet Website to see their traditional attire and listen to their chanting. A display of library resources on the culture of Tibetan Buddhism is currently available at the entrance of the Library.